The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-16
CHAPTER III
THE TEACHER.

| lated savings enough from this honest indus
try to begin the study of law Accordingly,
| the school was left without a teacher One
day stranger brought letter TO the Pres
byterian minister, applying for the vacant
| place. After some delay it was given him.
He was of slender, though athletic build. with
| dark hair and dark gray eyes. His face was
fine, strong one, fun of will and intelligence;
but it was not a peaceful face nor face at
rest.
In the center OF the shabby village was the
grOcery-conmon club room for the male
gossips of the neighborhood Travellers knew
it was the grocery by token that it had box
of backing and two clothes pins in the win
dow. The stranger teacher had little room
over this shop. He was quite solitary at first
Of evenings be staid alone in this room and
played a violin, sometimes far into the night.
OF afternoons, after school, he took long
walks over the country roads and paths
Rain or shine, it was his habit. Indeed, he
rather seemed TO enjoy walk in the rain
against the wind, with the storm beating in
his face. He appeared more calm and happy
after a five mile tramp in rough weather At
such times the people in the house heard him
often singing to himself, in a singularlv deep
sweet voice, songs in an unknown tongue
The impression of the strangers dread and
mysterious learning had SO deepened in few
months that the simple country people de-
clared he sang in Hebrew But a farmer
from over seas told them the words were
German. 1t was the folk song of Germany
the new teacher sang. Thereupon the grocer.
with the air of one announcing great truth,
said:
"He's a Dutchman."
Once, after a fierce walk, George Morrison,
quite exhausted, threw himself full length
upon the carpet in his little room, with pill
low under his head. He thought at first to
doze, but the stovepipe hole in the floor was
telelephone, bringing unerringly to his sensi-
tive ear every word spoken in the rustic shop
below. He knew just how the male gossips
We're grouped. There was the Squire, who
sat on barrel head. There were the shoe
maker and the postmaster. There was the
lazy grocer himself, who sat upon an up
turned empty soap box most of the time and
let his wiry little wife wait upon the Gus
toners.
At length Jim Sweet said:
"That there new schOolnaster amt much
account, reckon. He's too darned gram
NAUTICAL"
Il heerd him whip out the Presbyterian
preacher in argument tother day." said the
postmaster.
Now Simpllins, the grocer, struck in He
had listened to all the rest first. He had a
solemn way of stating a stupid old fact as if
it had been great new truth. He was, there
fore, esteemed a man of very profound judg-
ment by everybody but his own wife. She
saw through her husbands humbug, as
wives, alasI too often do. Simpkins said
solemnly:
ats my opinion man that can outargify
the Presbyterian minister amt a safe person
to be trusted with the edication of our little
ones. It's my opinion, further, that the
sclIoolnaster's got somethin' on his mind.
Them close he wears amt Linwood cut. It's
my opinion he's come from somewhere, and
come down in the world. It's my opin-
ion"-
1Your opinion, Sim Simplinsl' exclaimed
his wiry little partner, contemptuously. "If
the schoolmaster's got something on his mind,
it'd better be that than not TO have any mind
at all. They say he's come down in the
world, do theys What of its I've heerd say
it was better to be dead lion than live jack
ass Amt the Carstone children going to
school to him, every one of emf A mans
good enough to teach my children, if he's
good enough to teach them. They're man
neredly family, from the oldest to the young
est, that they are!7
But the new master won the hearts of the
children right speedily. There were an ex-
toward them, though something had
schooled him through years to think of others
rather than himself, and those others weak
and childish. He had said he was "a years
old, but he looked years older. 1t was easy
to see he had been born in a different sphere
from the peoplefle had come among. Even
Jim Sweet recognized the fine, high bred
ways that separated him from Linwood folk
But it was true that he had something ON
his mind He was unhappy and wretchedly
discontented. He had sought Linwood to be
out of the world, and, having his wish, he
found, as many do that his wish was just
what he did not want The coarseness. the
stolid self conceit, the prying curiosity, the
illiteracy of the Linwood people chafed his
soul till he was like a tiger behind bars. Oh,
what would bring forgetfulnessl
He had been in his new employ only two
months, yet he had grown weary and reck-
less In week more he would resign his
place, he said to himself In this mood be
went to his task one morning Entering the
school house his eye rested on a group Of
handsome, tastefully dressed children. Next
moment he saw that one, a girl, was older
and taller than the rest, and his wandering
eye was instantly arrested by her remarkable
beauty. The group were new pupils They
were the Carstone children, Shirley among
them She lifted her eyes, and fash Of
recognition passed between the two souls, the
child and the masterz
1t was a day of beginning in the lives of
both
This story has been very quiet thus far.
Storm enough come later.
From that day there was more of peace in
the life of George Morrison. This girl pupil
understood his plans with an instant. sweet
recognition that surprised him Gradually
better, more refining influence spread over
the rude school
Papa" said Shirley, Nthis new teacher has
opened new world for Us. Ask him to come
to our house
M